The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-13
CLARK ON THE STAND.
lie AND MS WIFE TELL TIE STORY
or the Murder Of william, O'Nenl by tho
Fdrmer-The Defense Examines Mum.
Der OF Witnesses who Agree in the
n1nin Fcntures--O'Neal'sr lrcntA,


Der OF Witnesses who Agree in the
N1ain Fcntures--O'Neal's Tilrcatn,
Tho deiensc commenced the taking OF
testimony in tho trial Of Elmer CLARK for
the murder OF William O'Neal in the Cir
cult Court yesterday. A large number Of
witneaaes were examined, the defense
closing with Claik'a testimony shortly
alter o'clock, when q little evidence in
robuttal was offered, and court, adjourned
till 8 A. NJ. to-day, when the argument
will be made to the jury. Mr.. Jordan
will open for tho State, Col. Arnett
following for the defence. Mr.. Psndleton
will cloee for the defence, and will be fol.
lowed by Capt. Dovener, who will make
the closing speech for the prosecution.
The main feature Of yesterdays sessions
OF tho court was the examination OF Elmer
CLARK, the prisoner at the bar, and his
wife. The latter told OF her intimacy with
William O'Neal prior TO her marriage,
when shs was an inmate OF Madame Ann
Wooeter's house, on Twenty-6rst street,
and OF q threa. 0'Neal made q short time
before her marriage to kill both herself
and CLARK il ehe ever married him. This
threat she repeated 10 her husband q
short time after their marriage. 5igi4t
Mrs. Clark also told OF threats made by
O'Nesl on tho second Of March last, the
day Of the shooting, which we're told to
CLARK. She was an eye witness Of CLARK
and O'Nesl's meeting at the time OF the
shooting, but went behind the house, out
Of sight, before Clark fred the first shot,
| The names OF Mrs. Clask's eister, Mile
Lohman, and her husband, John Lob
man, were frequently named in connec-
ton with all the witneaaea' stories, and
the prosecution underworld BY question
ing Mrs. Clark to chow that these two
important witnesses had lett the State for
good rcaaons connected with the trial, but
this was ruled out by Judge Jacob. .t.
The stories OF Mrs. Clark and her, hug
band conceded strikingly where they
touched on the came subjects All the
other witnesses for tho defenHe also agreed
in the main.
CLARk's OWN STORY. !, z /.
Elmer Clark, the accused, was next
called to the stand. He said he married
Mollie Tanner in january, 's5, and went
to live ut Washington, Pa. Prior to that
timo no had never beard Of William
O'Neal, but about two months alter his
marriage his wife told him that O'Neal,
who had been q regular visitor to her
while she was an inmate Of Madame
Keim's house in Centre Wheeling, had
told her Hometime before she was married
to CLARK that il she married him, he
| (O'Ncal) would kill both OF them. In
July, 'S5, his wife told him that O'Neal
was in Washington-that she had seen
him on the street. Subsequently the wit
ness met Ann Keim at the Baltimore &
Ohio depot in Washington, and she told
him that O'Neal threatened il he ever met
either Clark or his vile he would kill
them on sight. -. q
On the second OF March last Clark lived
at Elm grove, he said. His. vile, Mrs.
Goodsll, Mrs. Martin and others told him
that O'Neal was there, and that he had q
revolver and threatened to kill the wit
nees. Clark and his wife went to the
house Il Mrs. Frances Martin, becsuse he
did not desire to have any difficulty with
IO'Nesl. After he had been there some
little time he got revolver out OF, q
bureau drawer in Mrs. Martins back room
and went back to bis own home His
wife shortly came there and told him not
to let O'Neal come in while he was lying
down and kill him like dog, and SO he
got up and went out on the railroad in
tending to go back to Mrs. Martins. AS
he came down to hiH own house first he
saw O'Neal; the latter was Bome distance
away, and he called out to the witness to
wait, calling him "'Washington county
----of q -" and abusing him
vilely. CLARK responded that he did not
want to have any fuss, and told O'Neal to
keep away.
AS he came back up from his own house
again, O'Neal repeated bis abusive cpl.
theta and remarks, and proposed that
each give their pistols to bystanders and
meet unarmed. Clark accepted this offer,
he said, and handed his pistol to John
Lehman, his wife's brother.in-lsw,
lO'Eeal offered his to man standing near
him, but the man refused to take 1t, when
O'Neal advanced upon Clark with his re-
volver extended toward him. He came
rapidly. Seeing him armed and appa.
rently about to fro, the witness took his
own revolver from Lohmsn, and aiming
at O'Neal, fred, with the effect OF making
him lower his revolver SIS if he had besn
hit in the right arm. He wheeled at the
same time, and CLARK fred again. "A third
shot was a!so. fred, which struck O'Neal
in the back and caused him to fall for
ward, when Clark advanced close to him
and fired the fourth shot as he lay on the
ground. s Is .4& Ss
| sHS1 OTHER TESTIMONY. ~
Tho first witness examined for the State
was eolored woman, Mrs. Frances Good
NIL. She said that o. Neal asked at several
houees for something to eat. Ha knocked
| nj Giask1 "a Annr hnf Al xn .Nl. i La ~